Join in the worldwide novel writing challenge

Beginning Monday, writers the world over will begin participating in a writing challenge. The goal: To write a 50,000-word novel by midnight, Nov. 30.

This year, for the sixth time, St. Augustine will have a municipal group participating in the slightly misnamed National Novel Writing Month, affectionately called NaNoWriMo.

The stated goal is difficult enough, but the real difficulty is attempting this giant feat solo. That's why "chapters" spring up in many cities in the United States, as well as Canada, and many countries overseas, helping bring authors together to spur each other on. Writing sessions, coffee dates, and social events with like-minded people enable each writer to feel they are not alone, and help dispel some of the anguish of taking on such a big project.

St. Augustine's NaNoWriMo chapter is being spearheaded by Carolyn Lawrence. The 2003 NaNoWriMo participants who finished their novels by the deadline helped to motivate and welcome fellow participants to partake in this challenge. For the past two years, Lawrence was the co-leader of the Atlanta NaNoWriMo group, a group that doubled in size each year. By 2003, the group boasted about 300 members. The Atlanta chapter was featured in the Cherokee Tribune and the Georgia Tech Technique.

Recently transplanted back to her hometown, Lawrence is hopeful of this year's group and hopes that she can have the success she had in Atlanta here in St. Augustine.

For information on NaNoWriMo, go to www.nanowrimo.org to register.

For information about the local group e-mail Carolyn Lawrence at St. Augustine_on@nanowrimo.org.